DePTH: De-emphasize PTH

Last updated: June 12, 2024
Sponsor: University of Washington
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Kidney Disease

Nephropathy

Kidney Failure (Pediatric)

Treatment

IV activated vitamin D

Oral calcitriol with cinacalcet rescue

Clinical Study ID

NCT06288451
STUDY00018021
1K23DK136930-01
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The De-emphasize Parathyroid Hormone (DePTH) Study is a 12-month pragmatic, randomized, parallel-group, active comparator, open-label, blinded end-point study of 90 patients with incident or prevalent secondary hyperparathyroidism and kidney failure treated with in-center hemodialysis. It tests the hypothesis that low fixed-dose oral calcitriol (intervention) will have more favorable effects on a comprehensive panel of biomarkers that assesses mineral metabolism, bone turnover, and serum calcification propensity, compared with variably-dosed intravenous activated vitamin D titrated to PTH targets (usual care).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age >=18 years

  2. Kidney failure treated with in-center hemodialysis

  3. PTH >=150 pg/mL x 2 consecutive measures at least 1 month apart or active IVactivated vitamin D treatment using the NKC protocol

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. History of parathyroidectomy or calciphylaxis

  2. Severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (PTH >=600 pg/mL x 2 consecutive measures atleast 1 month apart despite paricalcitol >=10 mcg 3x/week or doxercalciferol >=5 mcg 3x/week or cinacalcet >30 mg/d)

  3. Calcium >9.8 mg/dL

  4. Phosphate >9 mg/dL

  5. Cholestyramine, phenytoin/phenobarbital, or ketoconazole use

  6. Breast-feeding mothers

  7. Inability to provide informed consent and no legally authorized representative

Study Design

Total Participants: 90
Treatment Group(s): 2
Primary Treatment: IV activated vitamin D
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
March 11, 2024
Estimated Completion Date:
February 28, 2027

Study Description

Because of the kidneys' major role in vitamin D metabolism, most patients with kidney failure on dialysis have biochemical abnormalities that include vitamin D deficiency and high levels of phosphate, fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), and parathyroid hormone (PTH). All of these abnormalities are associated with cardiovascular disease, bone disease, and death and are major reasons why nephrologists have treated patients on dialysis with activated vitamin D agents for over 30 years. Current guidelines, however, encourage nephrologists to use high doses of vitamin D in order to lower PTH levels to pre-specified treatment targets. This approach to treatment has not been proven to improve health and survival, and may be associated with several harms, including further increasing levels of FGF-23 (a major cardiovascular risk factor), increasing calcium levels, which may promote vascular calcification, low turnover bone disease, and interruptions in vitamin D treatments.

Administering a low, stable dose of vitamin D may be safer and more effective than the current standard of care. The De-emphasize PTH (DePTH) Study is a pragmatic randomized clinical trial of 90 patients on hemodialysis in Seattle, WA, USA that tests whether a low fixed-dose of oral calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D; study intervention) is more safe, effective, and feasible compared with the current usual care. Participants will be recruited at their hemodialysis treatment centers and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of these two treatment strategies and followed over 12 months. Participants randomized to the study intervention will receive a fixed dose of calcitriol 0.5 mcg three times a week at their dialysis treatment sessions regardless of PTH level over the ensuing 12 months. Participants randomized to usual care will maintain the existing approach to treating abnormal mineral metabolism using vitamin D doses titrated to monthly to quarterly measurements of PTH. The outcomes for this trial are a panel of blood-based measurements of bone and vascular health that will be drawn at the same time as the blood work done monthly as part of routine dialysis care.

Connect with a study center

  • University of Washington

    Seattle, Washington 98104
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.